Releasable supports for well devices



April 3, 1962 J. v. FREDD 3,027,947

RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES Filed Aug. 11, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet1 20 20 I9 19 18 l8 I7 17 ii l7 I! 32 15 m 20 20 Fig.2

INVENTOR. John V. Fre dd Fig.l ww

ATTORNEY April 3, 1962 J. v. FREDD RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES3 Sheets- 2 A: q 147/ 4 W m Td m d m mF V n h 0 J TTORNEY April 3, 1962J. v. FREDD RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FOR WELL DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 11, 1958 INVENTOR. J 0 h n V. F re d d Fig.7

ATTORNEY United States Patent 32,9 7,941. ,RELEASABLE SUPPORTS FQRWELL'DEVICES JohrtV. Fredd, Dallas, Tex.,- assignor to Otis EngineeringCorporation, Dallas, Tex., a-co'rporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 11,1958, SeL NO. 754,406 24 Claims. (01. 16,6-=-21,4)

T i invention tes' we de is an r a e part c I y to s pp r o top po it nble in p edet min d Pos i a wel p pe. Ibis pp cation awn iim tion in pao my sopendins applic tiqn e al N 385, 8, filed Ost b r 9. v19:5 11.0waten .94 3.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stop forpositioning a well device in a predetermined position in a well pipe. a

A particular object of the invention is to provide an obstruction orstop which may be removably secured in an open-ended well pipe wherebythe passage of well tools downwardly and out of the open end ofsaidtubing is prevented, but wherein said stop permits substantially fullflow of fluids in either direction through the well pipe past the stop.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved stop orsupport of the character which is positionable in and removable from awell pipe by means of a flexible line. a

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stop psitionable in a nipple in a well pipe provided with a recess having anupwardly facingstop shoulder for engagement by a stop member on the stopwhereby said stop is stopped at and supported in said nipple.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of devicesconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein: I

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of atubing stop showing it locked in place in a landing nipple connected ina well pipe;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section and partlyin elevation, taken at aright angle to FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitud'nal sectional view of another form of the tubingstop showing the same as it appears while being lowered in a well pipeor tubing string;

FIGURE .4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the stop as it appearslocked in place in a landing nipple nnes edin e we ripe;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 ofFIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of astill further form of tubing stop showing the same as it appears whilebeing lowered into a landing nipple connected in a well pipe or tubingstring; and,

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, showing the stop as itappearslocked in place in the landing nipple.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, thereference numeral 10 designates a tubing stop which includes a tubularbody 11 having a pair of opposed longitudinally extending key slots orwindows 12 through which the stop and lock keys 13 extend. Each key hasat its opposite ends lateral projections or wings 14 which are adaptedto bear against the inner walls of the body 11 to limit outward movementof the keys. Each key is biased outwardly by a pair of springs 15 whosecentral bight portions lfibear against the keys, whose opposite endportions 17 are disposed in recesses 18 formed in the stop body on eachside of the key slots, and whose ends 19 are received and held insuitable catch holes 20 in the body wall. On the lower end of each ofthe keys 13 a guide boss 21 having outwardly convergent beveled upperand lower shoulders 22 and 23, respectively; and an elongate selectorand stop b0ss24 is formed on the key above the guide boss and provides adownwardly facing stop shoulder 25 at: the lower end of said stop boss.a A tubular lock mandrel or member 26 is slidable longitudinally in thestop body and is releasably held in an upper position in said body by ashear :pin 27. The lock mandrel has a pair of opposed windows 28 whichreceive internal projections 29on the upper ends of the keys for apurpose to be hereinafter described.

In use, the stop is -lowered into a tubing string orwell pipe by meansof any suitable running tool which engages the external annular flange30 on the upper end of the lockmandrel. The keys 1 3 arefree to moveinwardly against the resistance of the springs 15 whenever the guidebossesvzrl encounter any obstructions in the tubing string, their lowerbeveledshouldersicamming the keys inwardly upon meeting suchobstructions.

;When; the tubing stop reaches the landing nipple 31, which ispreferably connected to the lowerend of the tubing string, the guidebosses move past an internal a11- nul'ar stop flange '32. in the bore.ofthe landing nipple but the downwardly facing stop shoulders 25 ofthe. selector and stop .bosses engage the undercut'upper shoulder 33 ofthe stop flange, the keys moving outwardly under the urging of thesprings into position for the undercut stop shoulders 25 engage theshoulder 33, thus stopping further downward movement of the stop body.

Downward jarringblows are .then imparted to the lock mandrel 26 by meansof the usableflexible line operated running and pulling tools to shearthe pin 27 and move the lock mandrel downwardly in the body 11. Thelower end portion of the lock mandrel is provided on opposite sides withflattened surfaces 34 below the windows 28, andthese flattened surfacesengage internal lock surfaces 35 on the lower portions of the keys andthus hold the keys in expanded or locking position. Beveled shoulders 36on the lower end of the flattened surfaces and correspondingly beveledsurfaces 37 at the upper ends of the lock surfaces 35 of the keyscooperate to positively move the keys fully outwardly if for any reasonthe keys have not previously been moved to fully expanded position bythe springs.

. Downward movement of the-lock mandrel in the body is limitedby theengagement of the upper edges 38 of the windows 28 of the mandrel withthe upper faces of theinternal projections 29 on the keys.

.The Support or stop is thus locked in position in the landing nipple bythe lock mandrel and the keys, and neither an upward nor a downwardforce applied to the body can dislodge it. The running tool is thendisengaged from the lock mandrel and removed from the tubing string,leaving the tubing stop in position in the tubing string. a

It willbe noted that the lock mandrel is tubular and has a boretherethrough which permits substantial flow of gases and liquids intothe tubingstring.

When it is desired to remove the support or stop, a suitable fishing orretrieving tool is lowered into the tubing string on the flexible linerunning and-pullingtool assembly to engage the flange 30 at theupper-rend of the lock mandrel. The lock mandrel is then pulled upwardly to disengage the flattened surfaces 34 of the mandrel frombetween the lock surfaces 35 of the keys and thus free the keys forinward movement. The projections 29, of the key which extend through thewindows 28 of the mandrel then engage the lower edges 39 of the windows28. The upper ends of the keys are relieved at each side to formupwardly facing shoulders 40 which abut downwardly facing shoulders 41 Iformed near the upper ends of the slots. Thus further upward movement ofthe fishing tool and lock mandrel will cause the stop body to moveupwardly carrying the keys with it. The upper shoulders of the selectorand stop bosses are beveled at 42, and these beveled shoulders, togetherwith the upper beveled shoulders 22 of the guide bosses will then camthe keys inwardly to enable them to pass any obstructions they encounterduring upward movement of the stop through the tubing.

It will be obvious that the configiration of the selector and stopbosses and of the guide bosses may be varied and corresponding recessesformed in the internal flange 32 of the nipple 31 so that the bosses ofthe lock and stop keys will engage in only the corresponding recesses ofa selected nipple. The stop may thus be selectively landed and locked ina particular nipple without danger of the keys lodging in recesses ofother nipples.

In FIGURES 3 and 4 is illustrated another form of the tubing stop, thestop being designated generally by the numeral 50 and including anelongate tubular body 51. A plurality of stop and lock keys 52 aredisposed around a reduced intermediate section 53 of the body. A lockingsleeve 54 is slidably mounted on the upper end of the body and has aplurality of dependent resilient fingers 55 which extend downwardlythrough circumferentially spaced slots 56 in an external flange 57 onthe body above the reduced section 53. An outwardly extending andcircumferentially enlarged expander head 58 is located on the lower endof each finger for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A retainer collar 59 is secured around the flange 57 by a set screw 60to retain the fingers 55 in the slots 56. The engagement of the enlargedexpander heads with the flange limits upward movement of the fingers inthe slots and also limits upward movement of the sleeve 54 on the body.The keys are spaced radially apart by the downwardly extending fingersand the expander heads thereon. A downwardly extending annular lip 61 onthe collar 59 engages an upwardly extending projection 62 on each stopand lock key whereby the keys may move laterally through a limiteddistance between expanded locking and retracted releasing positions. Aretainer band 63 mounted on the body below the reduced section 53 andextending upwardly around the lower end of such reduced section engagesa downwardly extending projection 64 on each stop and lock key tosimilarly limit the lateral movement of the lower ends of the keys. Aspring 65 housed in a recess 66 in the inner surface of each key bearsagainst the reduced section of the body to urge the keys outwardlytoward expanding locking position.

An outwardly extending boss portion 67 is provided on the lower part ofeach key and when the keys are moved outwardly by the resiliency of thesprings 65, the bosses enter an internal annular stopping and lockingrecess 68 formed in a landing nipple 69 connected in a tubing string 70.

Laterally extending locking wings 71 are provided on each side of thebosses and are engaged by the expander heads 58 on the sleeve fingersupon dovmward movement of the sleeve relative to the body and the keys,the expander heads moving behind the locking wings to positively holdthe keys in expanded position. The lower outer end 72 of each expanderhead is downwardly and inwardly beveled whereby said shoulders mayengage the locking wings to earn the keys outwardly to expanded positionin the event that the keys have not moved fully outwardly under thebiasing force of the springs.

A packing means 73, shown to be of a plurality of rings of packing ofthe V-type, is retained on the lower part of the body by a nut 74, saidpacking means sealing with the wall of the bore of the landing nipplebelow the recess 68.

The threads 75 on the lower end of the body may also be utilized forattaching thereto a well device (not shown) such as a choke, standingvalve, check valve or the like.

In use, the stop is lowered into a tubing string by means of a suitablerunning tool which engages the external flange 76 on the upper end ofthe sleeve 54. The sleeve being at its upper limit of travel on the bodyas shown in FIGURE 3, the stop and lock keys 52 are free to moveinwardly against the resistance of the springs 65. The boss portions ofthe keys have inwardly beveled lower and upper shoulders 78 and 77,respec tively, whereby the keys are cammed inwardly upon meetingobstructions in the tubing string while the stop is being lowered in thetubing string or, as will be hereinafter more fully described, while thestop is being raised therein.

When the tubing stop reaches the landing nipple 69, the keys moveoutwardly under the urging of the springs to move the boss portions intothe recess 68 in said nipple. Downward jarring blows are then impartedto the locking sleeve by means of the customary flexible line operatedrunning and pulling tools to move the locking sleeve downwardly to movethe expander heads 58 of the sleeve fingers behind the locking wings 71of the keys. The expander heads engage the locking wings to preventinward movement of the keys whereby the stop is positively locked inposition in the nipple. The beveled lower outer shoulders 72 of theexpander heads will cam the locking lugs of the keys to positively movesaid keys outwardly if for any reason the keys have not previously beenmoved to fully expander position by the springs.

The bevel of the lower shoulders 78 of the boss portions of the keys isat a greater angle to the axis of the stop than is the bevel of thelower outer ends 72 of the expander heads 58 whereby the stop will besupported in the nipple by the engagement of the beveled lower shouldersof the key boss portions with the correspondingly beveled lower end 79of the nipple recess 68 while the locking sleeve is moved downwardlyrelative to the body and the keys, even in the event that the keys havenot previously moved to their fully expanded positions.

With the tubing stop thus locked in position in the landing nipple(FIGURE 4), the running tool is then disengaged from the locking sleeveand removed from the tubing string. It will be noted that, the body ofthe stop being tubular, substantial flow of gases and liquidstherethrough may take place.

When it is desired to remove the stop from its locked position in thelanding nipple, a suitable retrieving tool is lowered into the tubingstring on the flexible line running and pulling tool assembly to engagethe flange 76 at the upper end of the locking sleeve. The sleeve is thenpulled upwardly to disengage the expander heads from their positionbehind the locking wings of the keys, where upon the keys are free tomove inwardly against the force of the springs as the stop is movedupwardly in the tubing string, the keys being cammed inwardly by theupper beveled shoulders 77 of the boss portions and by similar beveledshoulders 80' at the upper ends of the keys. The engagement of theexpander heads at the lower ends of the fingers of the sleeve with theflange 57 of the body causes the body to be moved upwardly with thesleeve as it is lifted by the retrieving tool.

It will be obvious that the shape and dimensions of the boss portions ofthe keys and the locking recesses in the landing nipple may be variedwhereby the boss portions will enter only a nipple having a recess ofcorresponding shape and dimensions. The stop may thus be selectivelylocked in only a selected nipple 69 without risk of inadvertently beinglanded or locked in a nipple having a differently configurated recess.

A further modified form of the tubing stop, which may be used toposition well tools in a selected position in a well casing or in atubing string, is shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The stop 150 has a tubularbody or mandrel 151 formed with a pair of opposed lateral windows 152near its upper end. An external retainer sleeve 153 is rigidly securedas by welds around the upper end of the mandrel to extend above andbelow the windows 152 of the mandrel and such a retainer sleeve haswindows 1555 of lesser length than the mandrel windows and aligned withsaid mandrel windows. A pair of stop dogs 156 are mounted in the mandreland protrude outwardly through and are laterally movable in the sleevewindows. Outward movement of the stop dogs in the windows is limited byupwardly and downwardly extending fingers 157 and 157a on the upper andlower inner ends of the dogs engaging the retainer sleeve.

A central control member or rod 158 is slidable longitudinally in themandrel and has a reduced intermediate portion 159 which provides adownwardly and inwardly tapered annular camming shoulder 160 adapted toengage the downwardly and inwardly tapered shoulder 161 at the upper endof the inwardly projecting lock surface 161a on the inner surface ofeach of the stop dogs to move said dogs outwardly to expanded positionswhen the control member is moved downwardly relative to the tubularmandrel. The control member is urged resiliently downwardly in themandrel by a coil spring 162 confined on the lower portion of saidcontrol member between a spacer ring 163 bearing against the lower endsof the stop dogs and a retainer ring 164 secured to the control memberby a pin 1 65.

A pair of pawls 166 are pivotally secured within the lower bifurcatedend of the tubular mandrel by a pin 167, and said pawls are swingablethrough the opposed longitudinal slots 163 forming the bifurcation atthe lower end of the mandrel. A torsion spring '169 has hooks at thelower ends of its arm 170 engaged in holes in the pawls and its coilheld in a slot 171 in the lower end of the control member by a pin 172extending through said coil and control member. A ring 173 is heldon thelower end of the control member by the pin 172 to prevent undue lateralmovement of the lower end of said control member.

In use, the control member 158 is raised relative to the mandrel and thestop dogs, against the downward force exerted by the spring 162, untilthe pawls 166 swing upwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 7. Asuitable running tool (not shown) connected to a flexible line runningand pulling tool assembly is engaged with an external annular flange 174at the upper end of the control member, and the stop is lowered in thetubing T by means of said running tool. The pawls 166 engage and ridealong the tubing wall under the outward biasing of the torsion spring169, as shown in FIGURE 7, and thus hold the control member upwardly inthe mandrel against the force of the spring 162. With the control memberin its raised position, the reduced portion 159 of said member isopposite and between the inner surfaces of the stop dogs and the beveledsurfaces 175 at the lower outer edges of said dogs may cam the dogsinwardly toward retracted position upon encountering any restriction orobstruction in the bore of the tubing.

The stop is lowered until it enters the bore of a landing nipple 176connected by means of a coupling 177 to the lowerend of the tubingstring, said nipple being open at its lower end. When the pawls 166 moveout of the open lower end of the landing nipple, their free ends swingoutwardly and downwardly, being biased outwardly by the spring arms 17%,and the control member is moved downwardly by the coil spring 162,downward movement of the control member moves the cam shoulder 160 onsaid control member downwardly into engagement with the taperedshoulders 161 on the inner surfaces ofthe stop dogs to cam said dogsoutwardly into engagement with the bore wall of the landing nipple. Thestop .is lowered further until the stop dogs enter the elongate internalannular locking recess 178 in the bore of the landing nipple, whereuponthe coil spring 162 moves the control member 158 further downwardly inthe mandrel to expand the dogs into said recess. The control member ismoved downwardly until the cam shoulder engages the ring 163, in whichposition the lock surface 190 above the cam shoulder is disposed betweenthe lock surfaces 161a of the stop dogs below the tapered shoulders 161in said dogs, thereby preventing the dogs from moving inwardly. With thedogs so expanded into the locking recess and held in such position bythe lock surface 190, the stop is locked in the landing nipple at thelower end of the tubing string, and will prevent any well tools orequipment manipulated in said tubing there above from dropping out theopen lower end of said tubing.

When it is desired to remove the stop, a suitable retrieving tool islowered to engage the flange 174 of the control member and move itupwardly. This upward movement of the control member lifts the pin 172and draws the center portion of the spring 169 upwardly, whereupon thepawls 166 are again swung upwardly in the slots 168 to a retractedposition, pivoting about the pin 167 conmeeting them to the mandrel 151.The upward move-. ment of the control member also moves the lock surface190 upwardly from locking engagement with the dogs and positions thereduced portion 159 of the control mem-. ber between the lock surfaces161a of the stop dogs so that said dogs are free to move inwardly of themandrel toward retracted position. A continued upward pull on thecontrol member is transmitted through the torsion spring 169 and thepawls 66 to the pin 167, thereby lifting the mandrel 151 and the dogs156 carried by said mandrel. The beveled shoulders 179 at the upperouter edges of the dogs engage the beveled annular shoulder 180 at theupper end of the locking recess in the landing nipple upon upwardmovement of the mandrel and are cammed inwardly to free the tubing stopfrom said landing nipple for upward movement through the tubing string.

It will be seen that several forms of stops have been illustrated anddescribed for being removably positioned in a well pipe or tubing stringat a desired location therein; that all forms of the tubing stop preventwell tools from passing downwardly in the tubing string past said stop,while at the same time permitting relatively unrestricted flow of fluidsthrough the tubing string.

It will also be seen that the stops are readily installable in andremovable from position in the tubing string by means of a flexible lineoperating mechanism, and that, with the stop in locked position in thetubing string, the stop is held against both upward and downwardmovement in said tubing string.

It will also be seen that the tubing stops are positionable in a landingnipple at a predetermined fixed position in a tubing string.

The stops are of relatively simple form and admit of easy manufacture.Further, their simplicity of construction and operation obviatesmalfunctioning even under unfavorable condition.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; aplurality of lock members on said body mounted for lateral movementthereon; means for biasing said lock members outwardly of said body;means limiting outward movement of said lock members on said body andretaining said lock members on said body; and .a locking means on saidbody movable from an upper to a lower position thereon and .engageablewith said lock members to hold the same in outward locking position;said lock members each having a downwardly facing shoulder engageablewith an upwardly facing shoulder in said well conductor to limitdownward movement of said body in said conductor; said locking meansbeing movable to said lower position on said body to engage and locksaid lock members in expanded position.

2. A Well device of the character set forth in claim 1 and including:sealing means on said body disposed to seal between said body and a wellconductor.

3. A well device of the character set forth in claim 1 and including:packing means on the exterior of said tubular body and disposed toengage and seal between said body and a Well conductor.

4. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; aplurality of lock keys on said body mounted for lateral movementthereon; means supporting and retaining said keys on said body; meansbiasing said keys outwardly on said body to a projecting lockingposition; a sleeve on said body slidable longitudinally thereof from anupper to a lower position; and locking means on said sleeve engageablewith said keys to hold said keys in such projecting locking positionwhen said sleeve is moved to said lower position, said keys when in suchposition being engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder in said wellconductor to support said stop in said tubing.

5 A stop for use in well tubing comprising: a tubular body having aplurality of lateral apertures; a lock key slidably mounted in eachaperture; means biasing said keys outwardly of said apertures; a lockmandrel in said tubular body initially releasably held in an upperposition in said body and movable downwardly therein to a lower positionengaging said lock keys; lock surfaces on said lock keys disposed to beengaged by said lock mandrel when said mandrel is moved downwardly insaid body to hold said lock keys in projecting locking position; andmeans releasably holding said lock mandrel out of such locking position.

6. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal boreand a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movablelaterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally inthe bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means formoving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly ofthe aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in onedirection in said body; biasing means in said body engaging said centralmember for biasing said central member longitudinally in said bodytoward the position wherein said central member engages and moves saidlock means to projecting position; means on said body and said stopmeans engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in saidaperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limitlongitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said centralmember having an external surface disposed normal to the direction ofmovement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of said lockmeans to provide a stop against inward movement of said lock means insaid aperture; and thus holds said lock means in laterally projectingposition extending out of said aperture; said central member having arelieved exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to aposition adjacent said lock means permitting said lock means to moveinwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said lock meanshaving an external camming surface projecting from said aperture wherebysaid lock means is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retractedposition upon encountering obstructions as said well device is moved ina well conductor.

7. A stop and support for well tools adapted to be mounted in a wellflow conductor and including: a tubular body having a longitudinal boreand a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; stop means movablelaterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally inthe bore of the body and having means engaging said stop means formoving said top means to a position projecting laterally outwardly ofthe aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in onedirection in said body; resilient means in said body engaging saidcentral member for biasing said central member longitudinally in saidbody toward the position wherein said central member engages and movessaid stop means to projecting position; means on said body and said stopmeans engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in saidaperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limitlongitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said centralmember having an external lock surface disposed normal to the directionof movement of said stop means and engaging the inner portion of saidstop means when said stop means is in expanded outward projectingposition to lock said stop means in such position and to provide a stopagainst inward movement of said stop means in said aperture; saidcentral member having a reduced exterior portion movable longitudinallyin said body to a position adjacent said stop means permitting said stopmeans to move inwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; saidstop means having an external camming surface projecting from saidaperture whereby said stop means is cammed inwardly of said aperturetoward retracted position upon encountering obstructions as said stopdevice is moved in a well conductor.

8. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal boreand a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movablelaterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally inthe bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means formoving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly ofthe aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in onedirection in said body; resilient means in said body engaging saidcentral member for biasing said central member longitudinally in saidbody toward the position wherein said central member engages and movessaid lock means to projecting position; means on said body and said stopmeans engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in saidaperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limitlongitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said centralmember having an external lock surface disposed normal to the directionof movement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of saidlock means to hold said lock means in outward projecting position thusproviding a stop against inward movement of said lock means in saidaperture; said central member having a reduced exterior portion movablelongitudinally in said body to a position adjacent said lock meanspermitting said lock means to move inwardly of said aperture to aretracted position; said lock means having an external camming surfaceprojecting from said aperture whereby said lock mean is cammed inwardlyof said aperture toward retracted position upon encounteringobstructions as said well device is moved in a well conductor, saidcentral member extending above and below the aperture in the body forall positions of said central member in said body.

9. A well device including: a tubular body having a longitudinal boreand a lateral aperture intermediate its ends; lock means movablelaterally in said aperture; a central member movable longitudinally inthe bore of the body and having means engaging said lock means formoving said lock means to a position projecting laterally outwardly ofthe aperture upon longitudinal movement of said central member in onedirection in said body; biasing means in said body engaging said centralmember for biasing said central member longitudinally in said bodytoward the position wherein said central member engages and moves saidlock means to projecting position; means on said body and said stepmeans engageable to limit outward movement of said stop means in saidaperture; means in said body engaging said central member to limitlongitudinal movement of said central member in said body; said centralmember having an external lock surface disposed normal to the directionof movement of said lock means and engaging the inner portion of saidlock means to prevent inward movement .of said lock means from outwardprojecting position and thus providing a lock and a stop against inwardmovement of said lock means in said aperture; said central member havinga relieved exterior portion movable longitudinally in said body to aposition adjacent said lock means permitting said lock means to moveinwardly of said aperture to a retracted position; said lock meanshaving an external camming surface projecting from said aperture wherebysaid lock means is cammed inwardly of said aperture toward retractedposition upon encountering obstructions as said well device is moved ina well conductor; means releasably holding said central member in aposition wherein said relieved exterior portion is disposed adjacentsaid lock means to permit said lock means to move to retracted position,said means for holding said central member in such position beingreleasable to permit said member to move longitudinally into engagementwith said lock means to hold said lock means in projecting lockingposition.

10. A device of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein said meansreleasably holding said central member in said fixed position in saidbody comprises a pair of pawls pivotally connected to said body andhaving their outer free ends disposed to ride against the bore wall of awell flow conductor through which the well device is lowered, and meansconnecting said pawls and said central member whereby said centralmember is releasably held in said position permitting said lock means tomove to retracted position while said pawls ride against the wall of thewell conductor, said pawls being adapted upon moving out the lower endof the well conductor to swing downwardly to permit said central memberto be moved downwardly relative to said lock means to engage and holdsaid lock means in projecting locking position.

11. A support for well devices adapted for use in tubing having aninternal upwardly facing shouider and an internal downwardly facingshoulder, said shoulders being longitudinally spaced from each other,said support including: a tubular body; said body having stop memberreceiving means opening outwardly intermediate the ends thereof, saidbody being insertable in said tubing to position said stop memberreceiving means adjacent the shoulders in said tubular member; a stopmember movably positioned in said stop member receiving means formovement outwardly therefrom to a locking position extending intoposition to engage said shoulders in said tubing when said stop memberreceiving means is opposite said shoulders, said stop member beingengageable with the shoulders to hold the body against longitudinalmovement in the tubing, yieldable means positioned to coact with saidbody and stop member to yieldingly urge the stop member toward latchingposition; and means movably mounted on the body and movableinto and outof a locking position to hold said'stop member in locking position.

12. A stop for use in a well conductor comprising: a tubular body; aplurality of stop members on said'body mounted for inward and outwardlateral movement thereon; means limiting outward'movement of said stopmembers on said body and retaining saidstop members on said body; alocking means on said body movable from an upper position to a lowerposition on saidbody and engageable with the said stop members when insuch lower position to hold said stop members in outward position, saidstop members each having a downwardly facing shoulder engageable with anupwardly facing shoulder in said well conductor to limit downwardmovement of .said body in said conductor, said locking means beingmovable from said lower position to said upper position to release saidstop members for movement from expanded position; and yieldable means onsaid body and positioned to coact with said stop members and saidlocking means to yieldingly urge said stop members toward and hold saidstop members in outward position on said body. p

13. A stop for well tubing including: a tubular body having a pluralityof windows; a stop dog movable through each window to expanded position;central control means extending longitudinally of I said tubular bodyand having means engageable with said stop dogs for moving said stopdogs to expanded positions upon longitudinal move- 'ment of said controlmeans in said tubular member; means biasing said control means forlongitudinal movement longitudinally of said tubular body; a locksurface on said control means engageable with said stop dogs uponlongitudinal movement of said control means in 'said tubular member topositively hold said stop dogs in expanded positions; means connectedwith said tubular body and said control means initially preventinglongitudinal movement of said control means in said tubular member andengageable with the well tubing, said last-mentioned means beingactuatable to permit said longitudinal movement of said control means,said stop dogs engaging an upwardly facing shoulder of said tubing whenin expanded position to prevent further downward movement of the stop insaid tubing, said means comprising paiwl means pivoted at one end tosaid tubular bodyaiid having an outer end extending outwardly of thetubular body to engage the tubing, and a spring connected to said pawlmeans for biasing said pawl means outwardly.

14. A stop for well tubing including: a ttbjular body having a pluralityof windows; a stop dog movable through each window to expanded position;a central control member extending through said tubular body and havingmeans engageable with said stop dogs for moving said stop dogs to andholding said stop dogs in expanded positions upon downward movement ofsaid control member in said tubular member; means biasing said controlmember for downward movement in said tubular body; and means secured tosaid tubular body and said control member and engageable with the welltubing for preventing downward movement of said control member in saidtubular member, said last-mentioned means allowing said downwardmovement of said control member when said means passes out of the loweropen end of said tubing, said stop dogs engaging an upwardly facingshoulder of said tubing when in expanded positions to prevent furtherdownward movement of the stop in said tubing.

15. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality oflateral apertures, a key in each aperture, means biasing said keysoutwardly through said apertures; a lock member slidable in said tubularbody releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardlyfacing shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided byan annularrecess of said tubing to limit downward movement of saidtubular body in said tubing when said keys move to expanded position inthe annular recess of said tubing; said lock member having a'locksurface thereon engageable with said lock keys when in a lower positionon said'body to lock said keys in expanded position in said apertures ofsaid body and in said recess of'said tubing; said lock member beingmovable downwardly to lock said keys in expanded position.

16. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality oflateral apertures; a key in eachaperture, means biasing said keysoutwardly through 'said apertures; a lock mandrel in said tubular bodyreleasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardly facingshoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided by anannular recess of said tubing to limit downward movement of said tubularbody in'said tubing when said keys move to expanded position in the 1 lannular recess of said tubing; said lock mandrel being movabledownwardly relative to said keys to lock said keys in expanded positionwhen said keys are in expanded position and downward movement of saidtubular body is stopped, said lock mandrel having an external locksuring a plurality of lateral apertures; a plurality of keys, one

key in each aperture; means biasing said keys outwardly through saidapertures; means on said keys engageable With said tubular body forlimiting outward movement of said keys; a lock mandrel in said tubularbody releasably held in an upper position; said keys having downwardlyfacng shoulders engageable with an upwardly facing shoulder provided byan annular recess of said tubing to limit downward movement of saidtubular body in said tubing when said keys move to expanded position inthe annular recess of said tubing; said lock mandrel being movabledownwardly when said keys are in expanded position and downward movementof said lock mandrel is stopped to lock said keys in expanded position;and a lock surface on said lock mandrel engageable with said keys topositively lock said keys in outward expanded position in said aperturesof said body when said lock mandrel is in said lower position.

18. A stop for tubing comprising: a tubular body having a plurality oflateral apertures; a plurality of stop keys, one key in each aperture;means biasing said keys outwardly through said apertures; a lock mandrelin said tubular body releasably held in an upper position; said keyshaving downwardly facing shoulders engageable with an upwardly facingshoulder provided by an annular recess of said tubing to limit downwardmovement of said tubular body in said tubing when said keys move toexpanded position in the annular recess of said tubing;

. said lock mandrel being movable downwardly when said keys are inexpanded position and downward movement of said lock mandrel is stoppedto lock said keys in expanded position; a lock surface on said lockmandrel engageable with said keys to positively lock said keys inoutward expanded position in said apertures of said body when said lockmandrel is in said lower position; and

means limiting upward movement of said lock mandrel in said tubular bodywhereby said stop may be removed by an upward force exerted on said lockmandrel.

19. in well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof and having aninternal enlargement mediate its ends, of a tubular body having anopening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exteriorthereof, said body being insertable in said member through said tubingto position said opening opposite said enlargement, latch means movablypositioned in said opening for movement to a latching position extendinginto said enlargement when the opening is opposite the enlargement, saidlatch means being engageable with said member in said enlargement tohold the body against longitudinal movement in the member, yieldablemeans positioned to coact with said body and latch means to yieldinglyurge the latch means toward latching position and means movably mountedon the body and movable into and out of a position to hold said latchmeans in latching position.

20. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof and having aninternal enlargement mediate its ends of a tubular body having anopening mediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exteriorthereof, said body being insertable in said member through said tubing,latch means movably positioned in said opening for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the body,

yieldable means positioned to coact with said body and said latch meansto yieldingly urge the latch means outwardly, means on said memberpositioned for engagement with said latch means to arrest downwardmovement of the body in the member upon outward movement of the latchmeans when said opening reaches a position opposite said enlargement,said latch means being engageable with the member in said enlargementupon outward movement of the latch means relative to the body when saidopening is opposite the enlargement to latch the body againstlongitudinal movement relative to the body, and means for moving thelatch means into latching position.

21. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular bodyinsertable in the member through the tubing and having an openingmediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof,latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the body, means on the member positioned for engagementwith said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to holdthe body against longitudinal movement in the member, yieldable meanspositioned to coact with the body and latch means to exert a forceagainst said latch means tending to move said latch means outwardly andplunger means movably mounted in the body and movable therein to oneposition in engagement with said latch means to hold the latch meansoutwardly of the body and to another position out of engagement with thelatch means to permit the latch means to be moved inwardly of the bodyagainst the outward force of said yieldable means.

22. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular bodyinsertable in the member through the tubing and having an openingmediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof,latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the body, yieldable means positioned to coact with the bodyand latch means to yieldably urge the latch means outwardly, means onthe member positioned for engagement with said latch means upon outwardmovement of the latch means to hold the body against longitudinalmovement in the member, plunger means movably mounted in the body andmovable therein to one position in engagement with said latch means tohold the latch means in outward position and to another position out ofengagement with the latch means to permit the latch means to moveinwardly of the body, and means for releasably holding the plunger meansout of engagement with said latch means.

23. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular bodyinsertable in the memher through the tubing and having an openingmediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof,latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the body, yieldable means positioned to coact with the bodyand latch means to exert a force on said latch means to yieldingly urgethe latch means outwardly, means on the member positioned for engagementwith said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to holdthe body against longitudinal movement in the member, plunger means inthe body movable therein in one direction to engage said latch means tohold the latch means outwardly of the body and in the other direction todisengage the latch means to permit the latch means to move inwardly ofthe body against the outward force of said yieldable means.

24. In well apparatus the combination with a tubular member adapted tobe connected to a well tubing to form a part thereof, of a tubular bodyinsertable in the member through the tubing and having an openingmediate its ends from the interior of the body to the exterior thereof,latch means movably positioned in the opening for movement inwardly andoutwardly of the body, means on the member positioned for engagementwith said latch means upon outward movement of the latch means to holdthe body against longitudinal movement 5 in the member and means foractuating said latch means outwardly of the body, said body having anexternal longitudinal groove positioned to permit the flow of fluidthrough the tubing through said member when the body is in the member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS TurnerApr. 2, McLaughlin Ian. 21, Gardner July 29, Taylor May 28, Minyard Jan.23, Baker a- July 7, Minter Dec. 17,

